The Colbert Report Prepares For The Hobbit With A Tolkien-Themed Week

Stephen Colbert is a Lord of the Rings fan, which is something he's expressed on his show in the past. And his enthusiasm for the upcoming Hobbit film is apparently making its way onto his Comedy Central series The Colbert Report. In fact, he's hosting a full-on Tolkien-themed week on the show in anticipation of the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The Colbert Report's Tolkien themed week will run from Monday, December 3 through Thursday, December 6 (next week), during which the usually-political-focused show will feature appearances by Gandalf's Sir Ian McKellan (December 3), Bilbo Baggins' Martin Freeman (12/4), director Peter Jackson (12/5), and Gollum's Andy Serkis (12/6). All episodes air at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT. Given how close we are to the release of what will be the first film in a trilogy of movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's classic book The Hobbit, added to Colbert's genuine appreciation for the book and movies, it sounds like next week's episodes of The Colbert Report are not to be missed by any Lord of the Rings fan.

Here's an interview Colbert did with Elijah Wood last year. It's mostly about Happy Feet 2, but it eventually turns into a movie prop sword fight, and they also talk a little bit about The Hobbit.

Perhaps he'll remember to ask McKellan if he made his Gandalf more Gandalfy this time around when he interviews him on Monday night.